New MES Bluetooth Digital smoker

[Bearcarver]

You are a better man then me Bear, I would be in court with someone over this. Have you ever had someone else out to see what can be done to correct the problems?

Randy,

I just had one of the Guys who works for my Son run a 20 Amp designated circuit outlet for my Electric WoodStove & Mrs Bear's Vacuum cleaner. 

Everything else is fine.

Bear

 

[remsr]

Oh great! Glad to hear you got things taken care of.

Randy.

 

[michael0506]

was that cooked on a Masterbuilt 40"!

 

[wrazlin]

Just bought one today for my girlfriend so I can smoke when at her house .. I'm use to my big smoker so this is a learning curve .. QUESTION: where is the dang smoke!!?? I soaked chips as it suggested dumped to loads in, I can smell a sweet flavor between the hickory and cherry but no smoke??? Is this normal ? Anyone?

 

[Bearcarver]

Just bought one today for my girlfriend so I can smoke when at her house .. I'm use to my big smoker so this is a learning curve .. QUESTION: where is the dang smoke!!?? I soaked chips as it suggested dumped to loads in, I can smell a sweet flavor between the hickory and cherry but no smoke??? Is this normal ? Anyone?

Don't listen to the "soak Chips" Thing---Bad Idea.

Most MES owners quit screwing with the built in Chip Burner, and got an AMNPS. (See the "Amazing Smoker" business card at the bottom of these pages).

Then you just fill it with pellets, light it properly, and you get up to 11 straight hours of perfect smoke.

Bear

 

[remsr]

I have had my 2.5 gen 40" Bluetooth MES for going on 3 years and have only used the chip loader once to season it. Since then I have used the cold smoker attachment, or the AMNPS depending on the wood I want to smoke with.
Because I have some wood chips and chunks that I can't find in pellet form. Red oak is one of them, sugar maple is another one.
Both work great but the AMNPS is by far the easiest to deal with and the one I use most. I got 12 hours of smoke using the AMNSP on my last apple smoked bacon, and it came out very smoky. There are tricks you can use to get that much time out of the cold smoker as well, but it is messier and more of a hassle.

IMG_0906.PNG

• remsr
• Apr 10, 2017

IMG_0904.PNG

• remsr
• Apr 10, 2017

The Masterbuilt cold smoker costs $69.95 and the AMNPS costs $29.95

Randy,

 

[iamdmphil]

Ok newbie coming in on the thread.  I have been looking at this MES 30" BT smoker at the local Wally World for $276.  It has swayed me from my original idea of buying a CB deluxe model (Amazon for $209)for two reasons: 1) I can go to cold smoke when I get some smokes under my belt if I so choose. 2) It seems the customer service is spot on with MB if needed.  \

With either choice, it seems the idea of using the AMNPS instead of chips is the way to go and getting a decent meat thermometer like a Maverick is also a standard.

Anything else I am missing besides the foiling of heat source and drip tray?

David

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Ok newbie coming in on the thread.  I have been looking at this MES 30" BT smoker at the local Wally World for $276.  It has swayed me from my original idea of buying a CB deluxe model (Amazon for $209)for two reasons: 1) I can go to cold smoke when I get some smokes under my belt if I so choose. 2) It seems the customer service is spot on with MB if needed.  \

With either choice, it seems the idea of using the AMNPS instead of chips is the way to go and getting a decent meat thermometer like a Maverick is also a standard.

Anything else I am missing besides the foiling of heat source and drip tray?

David

You got good Info there:

Should also have a roof over it if possible, or a really good waterproof cover (Tarp).

I would recommend getting the Bluetooth Gen #2.5 MES 40 instead of the 30. Last I saw they were about $326.

I started with the 30, and it was a waste of money, because I got a 40 a year later.

Bear

 

[remsr]

Like I always say, you can't fit a full packer in a 30" or a full rack of ribs with out culling them up, Bear covered everything else.

Randy,

 

[iamdmphil]

Thanks Bear! I have been reading this thread for 2 days trying to do my homework. I saw the price on the 30" I haven't wanted to pass it up, especially since on a tight budget. Any recs on pellets for first timers except for just getting some and trying them out?

 

[Bearcarver]

Thanks Bear! I have been reading this thread for 2 days trying to do my homework. I saw the price on the 30" I haven't wanted to pass it up, especially since on a tight budget. Any recs on pellets for first timers except for just getting some and trying them out?

I get all my Pellets & Dust from Todd (Amazing Smoker).

That way I always know I'm getting the best, and his CS is the Finest there is.

Bear

 

[iamdmphil]

I get all my Pellets & Dust from Todd (Amazing Smoker).
That way I always know I'm getting the best, and his CS is the Finest there is.


Bear

Gotcha. Just checked out Todd's site and I am getting all my ducks in a row. Simplicity is the goal here. No hassles just good food.

David

 

[Bearcarver]

Gotcha. Just checked out Todd's site and I am getting all my ducks in a row. Simplicity is the goal here. No hassles just good food.

David

Yup---That's the way I like things nowadays!!!

If it aint easy, I'm probably not going to do it.

Bear

 

[iamdmphil]

Bear or Randy would you have any qualms about a 40" MES without the BT? Just found one at academy for 299 that just has the RF remote. Looks to be the gen 1 from what I can tell

 

[Bearcarver]

Bear or Randy would you have any qualms about a 40" MES without the BT? Just found one at academy for 299 that just has the RF remote. Looks to be the gen 1 from what I can tell

Most MES 40s without Bluetooth are either Gen #1 or Gen #2.

If it's a Gen #1, it's a Great Smoker.

If it's a Gen #2, I wouldn't pay $50 for it.

My favorite one is the Gen #2.5 Bluetooth, but I wish it had the RF remote instead of the Bluetooth.

Bear

 

[iamdmphil]

image.jpg

• iamdmphil
• Apr 19, 2017

Here's the image from academy's website. From what I read on your thread about distinguishing between generations this is a gen 1.

David

 

[Bearcarver]

Here's the image from academy's website. From what I read on your thread about distinguishing between generations this is a gen 1.

David

Absolutely a Gen #1.  Great Smoker.

Looks exactly like the one I've had for 7 years----My Backup for these last 2 years.

Bear

 

[remsr]

I have never had a gen 1 but I hear they are great smokers. My neighbor has a gen 1 30" that has worked great for years. I have never had A gen 2 either but I know people who have and they have all had problems. Mine is a 2.5 gen with blue tooth that has worked great for 3 years. I do like being able to track and controll my smoker with my phone but I would be happy with it if it didn't have blue tooth. If Bear says the one you are looking at is a gen 1 it's a good investment.

Randy,

 

[Bearcarver]

I have never had a gen 1 but I hear they are great smokers. My neighbor has a gen 1 30" that has worked great for years. I have never had A gen 2 either but I know people who have and they have all had problems. Mine is a 2.5 gen with blue tooth that has worked great for 3 years. I do like being able to track and controll my smoker with my phone but I would be happy with it if it didn't have blue tooth. If Bear says the one you are looking at is a gen 1 it's a good investment.

Randy,

As far as I'm concerned the Gen #2.5 MES 40 is better than the Gen #1, but mainly because the top vent is on the left on the #2.5, and on the right on the Gen #1.

I needed the Heat deflector in the bottom of my Gen #1 to push the heat over from the right to the center before it rose up through the food in the smoker.

I don't need any deflector at all in my Gen #2.5, and the heat is balanced from right to left.

Bear

 

[iamdmphil]

Man, I have learned more since joining the forum on Sunday than I thought I would ever know about these electric smokers. Thanks Bear and Randy for all the input. I hope this weekend I will be seasoning in and starting on my world of watt burner smoking. My wife is even looking forward to leg quarters and pulled pork since we have talking about this.

David